The answer is integrity. This is correct because hashing is a one-way cryptographic function that produces a fixed-size digest from input data; when the computed hash of the downloaded file matches the published hash, it proves the file has not been altered during transit or storage, directly demonstrating the security concept of integrity. On the Microsoft SC-900 exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish integrity from confidentiality (encryption) or availability (redundancy), and a common trap is confusing hashing with encryption—remember, hashing ensures data hasn’t changed, not that it’s hidden. For a memory tip, think “hash for smash”—hashing smashes data into a unique fingerprint, and if the fingerprint matches, the data’s integrity is intact.
SC-900 Practice Question: Describe the concepts of security, compliance, and identity
This SC-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe the concepts of security, compliance, and identity. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A user downloads a software update from a company's internal website. The update file is hashed, and the hash value is published on a separate secure page. After downloading, the user computes the hash of the downloaded file and compares it to the published hash. The two values match. Which security concept is primarily demonstrated by this comparison?
Why wrong: Confidentiality is about preventing unauthorized access to data. The hash comparison does not protect against disclosure; it checks for alterations.
B
Integrity
Integrity ensures data has not been tampered with. Matching hashes indicates the file is unchanged, confirming its integrity.
C
Availability
Why wrong: Availability ensures that data and systems are accessible when needed. The hash comparison does not address availability.
D
Authentication
Why wrong: Authentication verifies the identity of a user or system. The hash comparison does not verify the identity of the download source; it verifies file integrity.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Integrity
Hashing is a one-way cryptographic function that produces a fixed-size digest from input data. By comparing the computed hash of the downloaded file to the published hash, the user verifies that the file has not been altered during transit or storage. This directly demonstrates the security concept of integrity, which ensures data has not been tampered with or corrupted.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Confidentiality
Why it's wrong here
Confidentiality is about preventing unauthorized access to data. The hash comparison does not protect against disclosure; it checks for alterations.
✓
Integrity
Why this is correct
Integrity ensures data has not been tampered with. Matching hashes indicates the file is unchanged, confirming its integrity.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Availability
Why it's wrong here
Availability ensures that data and systems are accessible when needed. The hash comparison does not address availability.
✗
Authentication
Why it's wrong here
Authentication verifies the identity of a user or system. The hash comparison does not verify the identity of the download source; it verifies file integrity.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse integrity with authentication, mistakenly thinking that verifying a hash proves the file's origin (authentication) rather than its unaltered state (integrity).
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Hash functions like SHA-256 produce a unique digest for each unique input; even a single bit change in the file yields a completely different hash. This property is used in digital signatures and code signing certificates (e.g., Authenticode) to ensure software integrity. In real-world scenarios, attackers may attempt a hash collision, but modern algorithms like SHA-256 are collision-resistant, making this verification reliable.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this SC-900 question in full detail.
Describe the concepts of security, compliance, and identity — This question tests Describe the concepts of security, compliance, and identity — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Integrity — Hashing is a one-way cryptographic function that produces a fixed-size digest from input data. By comparing the computed hash of the downloaded file to the published hash, the user verifies that the file has not been altered during transit or storage. This directly demonstrates the security concept of integrity, which ensures data has not been tampered with or corrupted.
What should I do if I get this SC-900 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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